3. Tasks of the Consultant:

3.1 Specific Tasks

The specific tasks details under this consultancy for International Certifications and Accreditations Specialist include:

1. Meeting either in-person or virtually with IPA Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party and/or his designee to understand the specific requirements of the scope of work and design and submit work plan and outreach strategy for execution of the activity.
2. Reporting to Deputy Chief of Party and/or his designee.
3. Recommend shortlisted companies/prospective beneficiaries to the IPA team for finalization from the short-list.

   
   Shortlisting of Pakistani Firms Seeking Certifications and Accreditation

   Here is an expanded list of tasks:

4. Development of application form questions which cover all the requirements needed for assessment of applicant firm based on the project objectives.
   1. Recommend questions and application fields that necessitate the submission of essential documents, including, but not limited to company profile, product portfolios, expansion strategies, current certification status, and others, to assess the need for U.S. - specific certifications and accreditations. This application form will be advertised and solicited publicly for firms to apply.
5. Development of ranking criteria and subsequent shortlisting for Round 2 and 3:
   1. Establish a comprehensive points system, and submit to IPA for review, based on which applicant firms shall be evaluated and shortlisted for the activity.
   2. Round 1 (To be done by IPA Team): Initial screening and evaluation of applications by applying the first filter.
   3. Round 2: Evaluation of the firms’ alignment with relevant U.S. market certifications and their potential for growth and expanded trade within the U.S., based on the selection criteria (mentioned in section 5.1, point v.a.)
   4. Round 3: Verification of the submitted data in Round 2 which may include virtual/in-person meetings.
   5. Seek approval on the developed criteria and scoring form from the IPA team.
6. Screen and review all submitted applications which will continue to be submitted on  rolling basis till April/May 2025,to ensure they meet the basic eligibility criteria, including evaluating the completeness and accuracy of the information provided by the applicant firms. Understand business strategy (using data received in the application form), core competency, and product portfolio of applicant firm by conducting a thorough analysis of the applicant firm's overall business strategy, including its long-term business expansion goals and market positioning which will be assessed in Round 2 and 3 evaluations.
   1. Evaluate each applicant firm's core competencies, including its unique strengths, operational efficiencies, and competitive advantages.
   2. Analyze the firm's product offerings’ relevance to the U.S. market.
   3. Review and confirm certification cost associated with certification as per application submitted by each firm.
   4. Shortlist firms that demonstrate potential for successful certification and accreditation achievement, as well as potential to conduct business in the U.S.
   5. Provide justification for selection or rejection of each applicant firm as a part of the evaluation.
   6.  Recommend short-list of companies to IPA for final selection.
7. Following up with firms for timely submission of the following information:
   1. Company details and information required for Round 2 and 3 evaluations.
   2. Reach out to applicant firms for periodic certification audit progress as requested by IPA for internal update.
   3. Any other relevant information or documentation that may be required by IPA for successful completion of this activity.
8. Review documents collected in the application form (mentioned in section 5.1 point iv. a) and conduct meetings (if required) with applicant firms to understand their needs:
   1. Examine all relevant technical and business documents provided by the firms, such as business plans, operational reports, and production capabilities.
   2. Gain insights into the firm's current certification status and past experiences with international standards & certifications.
   3. Clarify the firm's expectations and goals related to exporting to the U.S. market.
9. Confirm and report to IPA whether the applicant firms have successfully completed the certification process, including the receipt of official accreditation and validating/confirming the certification through the official channels.